Watched over by seven panda statues, with oranges, tangerines, flowers and plants for sale, the annual Flower Market Street Fair took place in San Francisco’s Chinatown over the weekend celebrating the Year of the Snake.
The two-day street fair was held Saturday and Sunday in honor of the Lunar New Year, which officially begins later this month, and takes place on Grant Avenue from Sacramento Street to Broadway Street, and Washington, Jackson and Pacific between Stockton and Kearny.
The fair kicked off with a parade on Saturday.
“Every traditional Chinese household should have lively blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth. Traditional Chinese entertainment such as Chinese Opera and lion dancing will be performed on stage both days,” according to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
People of all cultures and backgrounds were welcomed at the fair, organizers said.
This year’s fair featured the debut of the “Art and Culture Zone” — a first-ever art exhibition pop-up. Seven panda statutes stand sentinel throughout the block, each commissioned and hand-painted by local artists reflecting their interpretation of community and family during the New Year, organizers said.
The “Zone” is a collaboration between the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco and the Chinese Historical Society of America.